brettiexobc

Hey everyone. I've only had my Camaro for 4 months and I'm still learning. I don't know a whole lot about cars yet, so I apologize in advance if I seem confused. Basically, I have a 91 Camaro RS with the 305 V8. I want to replace it in the spring and I'm curious what engines would give me more power and efficiency but not bankrupt me. I've been told by a few people that a 383 stroker would be my best bet, but none of them have had a Camaro before. Any information would be great. Thank you!

dmccain

iTrader: (2)

L31 Vortec 350.. A little over two grand. Change cam and put a good 4bbl and headers and you will have a total different animal!

padak

iTrader: (10)

Couple questions we need answers to, to help you better.

1.) How much power you want, 250, 300, 400++?
2.) What is your max budget, $500, $1,000, $2,000?
3.) How good of a mechanic are you, what experience do you have?
4.) What is originally in your car (Carb, TBI, TPI)?
5.) What do you want to be in your car (Carb, TBI, TPI)?

The standard without knowing you or what it's your car would be Carb/TBI 350 if your car is an RS it means you most likely don't have TPI. If you don't know what the difference is between carb, tbi, and tpi, check it out because going from carb to TPI will require more money and electronics, going with Carb, well, it's the easiest. You probably have a carb/tbi in your car now so all you will need is to check junkyard or craig's list or forums here for a 350 block and swap all your stuff onto it and buy an after market carb if you want, headers if you want, cam if you want (all depending on question 1&2)

brettiexobc

I want around 300-350 after the swap. My budget is around $2000 for the engine swap unless I want to wait on redoing the interior, then its around $2800-3000. I am not a great mechanic. I'm still learning, but my uncle is a certified mechanic at our local Chevy dealership and he owns a few classic Chevys. My car is carb right now. I'd like to keep it carb if possible so I don't have to worry about spending extra money. I'm not trying to race this or anything. Just get a little extra kick.

Night rider327

iTrader: (13)

I would say stay away from the 383 right now. Your budget is alittle on the low side for a good 383 swap. Also if your talking about rebuilding the engine yourself the 383 is much harder for a rookie to rebuild. You have to clearance (grind) the block in a few places, get the right combo of parts, balance work, etc. Get a couple of rebuilds under your belt before you try the 383.

The 350 would be perfect for your goals/useage.

Are you wanting to buy and install a crate engine, or start with a block or core and rebuild one your self?

Do you want a new or used engine?

Being your still learning what I recommend will get you hands on inside an engine, but not too in depth at 1st, and get you a good performing engine on a budget.

Find a used 1996-00 vortec L31 350 from full size truck/van/suv, do a cam, intake dist. swap on it and put it in your camaro along with a set of headers, good exhaust, and a higher stall torque converter.

The stock vortec 350 makes 255 HP, has great heads will will support a 400 HP engine build. With the cam, intake, headers added your looking at an easy 300-325 HP 350

You can pick up a used vortec 350 running for $400-900. If you have room to do it, you might even be able to just buy a whole wrecked truck for $1,000, pull engine and part out/crush rest of truck and make some money back to help with your car fund.

Add in a 214/224@.050" cam ($150), valve springs ($35 to $100 depending on cam's lift), fel pro 1094 head gaskets ($45), fel pro intake gasket set ($65), edelbrock performer rpm vortec intake or summit stage III vortec intake ($50-$250 try to find a used one if you can), large cap HEI dist. ($100)

brettiexobc

Thank you guys! I'm definitely going to look at the Vortec!

five7kid

iTrader: (14)

Are you sure about that? A '91 RS V8 had TBI (throttle body injection) from the factory. It looks a lot like a carb to the untrained eye (if your uncle is certified on vehicles from '88-on, he would know the difference).

If it is carb, it was converted from TBI. If you have emissions inspections to pass, it may not be legal (technically, a carb on a '91 RS is not legal for street use anywhere in the United States).

Mr.ChevyStroker

Right now as we speak i'm about to do this exact swap in my 91 rs. I have a lsd, with a 5 spd, and im going with gmpp vortec intake manifold, to retain egr and vacuum. So far is good, but im looking where to put my brake booster vacuum line. Not thread jacking! Willing to help on some info!

1gary

I agree with the 96 to 00 vortec swap.

I think on any purchase of a swap engine you need to take a qualified mechanic with you to judge exactly what your buying.

The cam swap can get into machining the heads.That means you would have to take them off and at this time might be alittle much for you to tackle.Cam timing,torquing heads back on,etc.

Any swap requires a place to work with tools and equipment.Do you have that??.
Not laying on your back in a driveway.That makes the job outside twice as hard.

Mr.ChevyStroker

That unfortunately is how I am doing the swap. But it takes just a little longer thats all xD

Mr.ChevyStroker

This is an extremely budgeted swap on my part. the two most expensive things are the Engine, ($250) and the GMPP Intake (250). It can be done for relatively cheap depening if you wanna go carb or tbi.